1. Read the article then answer the following questions 1. What early detail made people think that this case would be different from all the other police brutality cases in the news last year? 2. Explain what was illegal/unjust about Freddie’s arrest and transportation to the police station. 3. What argument could the court/jury have made to rule that the officers involved in this case were not guilty? 4. What is your reaction to this ruling? Do you predict that the other officers involved will be found guilty or not guilty?

2. Discuss: What is spoken word/slam poetry?

3. Spoken Word/Slam Poetry Poetry that is performed for an audience. It is meant to be heard and seen, rather than read. It combines the skills of poetry and performance. Use literary devices: repetition, rhyme, alliteration, word play, slang

4. Origins of Slam Poetry Beatniks (like the “pre-hippies”) late 1940s-50s NYC and San Francisco Artsy intellectuals Stereotype: wear all black (turtleneck, beret, glasses) Have “open mic nights” at coffee houses (volunteers perform original poems/songs for the audience) Audience “snaps” rather than claps in order avoid disturbing the flow of the performance

5. What is a Poetry Slam? A spoken word poetry competition Term first used at a competition in a jazz club in Chicago (1984) Poets perform original work that gets scored by a panel of judges; elimination rounds continue until there is a single winner Usually hosted by an MC Became popular in the hip hop community

6. Characteristics of Slam Poetry Have a MESSAGE and deliver it passionately Have a clear attitude Be a strong storyteller: think of a moment in your life that made you feel deeply and talk about it in the most vivid, creative way possible Use “colorful” language: it shouldn’t sound like an everyday conversation Take on a character and commit to it. Slam poetry is acting/performing!

7. Other Performance Skills Eye contact Volume Speed Articulation Facial expressions Gestures

8. As we watch these two examples, answer the following questions… 1. What is the message of the poem? Summarize. 2. What interesting word play/literary devices did the poet use? 3. What interesting gestures/facial expressions did the poet use? 4. What did the two poets do differently in their performances? Anis Mojgani, “Shake the Dust” Marshall Davis Jones, “Touchscreen”

9. With the remaining class time… Write 1. A poetic song inspired by hip hop/folk style OR 2. A spoken word/slam poem Must be at least 20 lines long Must include literary devices: rhyme, “word play,” figurative language, repetition, etc. *Remember other characteristics unique to your genre! (ie: songs should include distinct verses and a chorus that gets repeated several times / spoken word poems should be vivid and passionate / etc.)